IT seems that the First and Last pub has come to the end of the road.
A planning application has been registered with the city council to convert the pub at the top of Cowick Street into flats.
If given the go-ahead the pub, along with an adjacent new building would become four flats, three two-beds and one single bed.
There would be a shared rear garden and one parking space per flat.
According to information given to the city council's planning officers the pub has had a number of landlords in recent years but has proved to be 'economically unsustainable'.
Local councillor Rob Hannaford said: "This planning application will, in the first instance, be viewed by many in St Thomas with some sadness as this pub has provided many happy times and occasions for generations of local people.
"It's one of Exeter's historic public houses, and I understand it was first listed in 1822, it then was rebuilt in 1913 as the Falmouth Inn. It was late in the 20th century that it was named the First and Last, as the terminus of the tram line was here, hence the first and last pub on the line. Many long standing residents will also remember that there were plans to demolish it in 1993, for a new roundabout."
Cllr Hannaford added: "I think it was widely accepted that at some future point a new landlord would come in, perhaps when the economy picked up again, and make a go of the pub, especially as a few years ago a huge amount was invested into the pub to upgrade the interiors.
"However it has now been shut for several years, and its current abandoned state has been causing problems for residents; there have been smashed windows, attempted break-ins, fly tipping and dumping in the entrances and the car park area, where we have also had abandoned cars, as well as real issues about the alarms going off on a persistent basis disturbing people, often at night.
"If there are now no realistic chances of reopening the pub, or some other commercial use, then redevelopment for housing seems the best way forward, especially as this section of Cowick Street is predominantly residential.
"It's well known that we desperately need more housing for people generally, and that Exeter's land supply is currently running low, so I assume that this would be considered as a brown field site.
"However I will be looking at the height, design, and density of the plans, and access to the site during the planning process, and I will be attending the relevant delegated briefing and planning committee to raise any considered concerns that may come forward."
